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REMINISCENCES OE 



ST. STEPHEN'S COLLEGE 



By GEORGE B. HOPSON, D.D. 




Class. 
Book 



Copyrii^htN^ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



REMINISCENCES OF 
ST. STEPHEN'S COLLEGE 




Rev. G. B. Hopson. 



REMINISCENCES OF 
ST. STEPHEN'S COLLEGE 

ANNANDALE, NEW YORK 

By GEORGE B. HOPSON, D. D. 

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS 



New York 

EDWIN S. GORHAM, Publisher 

37 East 28th Street 

1910 



»*\ 






Copyright 1910 
By Edwin S. Gorham 



•AY I. I- . 



To THE Alumni and Former Students of St. Stephen's, 

WHOSE college DAYS AND AFTER YEARS ARE DEAR 

TO HIS MEMORY, THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY 

DEDICATED WITH LOVE OF THE AUTHOR 



CONTENTS 

Chapter I. 

Early history. Charter. Organization. Orig- 
inal trustees. First warden 15 

Chapter II. 

Change of warden. Additional trustees. First 
buildings. Additions to the faculty. Increase 
in number of students. Gift of Ludlow and 
Willink Hall. Bishop Potter's testimony. 21 

Chapter III. 

Preston Hall. H. Potter and McVickar Halls. 
Financial straits. Relieved by Dr. C. F. Hoff- 
man 29 

Chapter IV. 

Services on All Saints' Day. St. Margaret's 
well. North Hoffman and South Hoffman Halls. 
Hoffman Library. Books 35 

Chapter V. 

St. Peter's Brotherhood. Celebration of ju- 
bilee 43 

Chapter VI. 
The wardens of St. Stephen's 47 

Chapter VII. 

Some of the benefactors of the college. • 51 

7 



ILLUSTRATIONS 
Rev. G. B. Hopson Frontispiece 

FACING PAGE 

The Chapel 18 

Original Dormitory of the College .... 22 

President's House 24 

Looking North Toward Library 26 

Rev. Chas. F. Hoffman, D.D. Rev. Thomas 

Richey, D.D 30 

The Well 36 

The Library 38 

Rev. Wm. Cunningham Rodgers, D.D., ... 40 

Hon. John V. L. Pruyn and Mrs. Pruyn ... 42 

Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D. Rt. Rev. G. F. 
Seymour, D.D. The Rev. John McVickar, D.D. 

John Lloyd Aspinwall 46 

The Rev. R. B. Fairbairn, D.D 48 

Rev. Lawrence T. Cole, D.D. Rev. Thos. R. 

Harris, D.D 50 

Mb. John Bard AND Mrs. Bard 52 



PREFACE 

Solomon tells us that "of making many books 
there is no end." Job expressed the wish that 
"his adversary had written a book. " I have not 
written this book to provoke the criticism of my 
adversary — if I have one — or to add one more 
to the many books already extant. But I 
thought it well to put in writing my knowl- 
edge of some events connected with the early 
history of St. Stephen's College, which other- 
wise would be lost. It has been my lot to be 
somewhat intimately associated with the college 
during forty-seven of the fifty years of its 
existence. Others know parts of its history as 
well as I do, but, from the nature of the case, 
no one can know the whole as well. The early 
history of nations, institutions and individuals 
is often buried in oblivion because no one took 
the trouble to record it. After the actors have 
passed away, we deeply regret that we did not 
obtain from them the knowledge that has died 
with them. What Horace says of poetry is 
equally true of prose: 

Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona 
Multi: sed omnes inlacrimabiles 
Urgentur ignotique longa 
Nocte, carent quia vote sacro, 

11 



Preface 

At the request of Doctor Rodgers, our new 
president, I read much of my manuscript, at 
the time of our Jubilee Commencement, last 
June. He then announced his intention of 
publishing it. My readers are indebted to him 
for assuming the responsibility of its publica- 
tion, and for the attractive form in which it is 
presented. 

George B. Hopson, 

Annandale, N. Y. November 4th, 1910. 



12 



REMINISCENCES OF 
ST. STEPHEN'S COLLEGE 



CHAPTER I. 

THE corporate existence of St. Stephen's 
College dates from March 20, 1860. At 
that time, the Hon. John V. L. Pruyn 
obtained from the legislature of the state of 
New York an act of incorporation, by which 
certain specified persons were authorized to 
"establish, conduct and maintain a seminary 
of learning in Red Hook, Dutchess County, to 
be a training college for the education and 
Christian training of young men, who desire to 
enter the sacred ministry in the Protestant 
Episcopal Church." At first, the trustees were 
authorized to confer degrees in divinity only, 
but the legislature enacted that "whenever it 
was shown to the satisfaction of the regents of 
the university that the permanent endowment 
of the college, including buildings and land, 
amounted to $100,000, the said trustees should 
have the like power with any college in this 
state to confer academical and literary degrees." 
The privileges of the college were afterwards 
extended to students who did not intend to 
study for the sacred ministry, 

15 



Reminiscences of 

The original number of trustees was sixteen. 
This number was subsequently increased to 
twenty -four. Five of these, viz., the bishop 
of the diocese, a member of the standing com- 
mittee of the diocese to be designated by said 
committee, the superintendent and treasurer of 
the Society for Promoting Religion and Learn- 
ing, and the warden or head of the faculty were 
to be ex-officio trustees. The first sixteen were 
the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D. D., Murray 
Hoffman, Esq., the Rev. John McVickar, D. D., 
James F. De Peyster, Esq., the Rev. George F. 
Seymour, all ex-officio, the Rev. Caleb S. 
Henry, D. D., the Rev. John I. Tucker, D. D., 
the Rev. Samuel Buel, John Bard, Margaret J. 
Bard, John L. Aspinwall, John V. L. Pruyn, 
Henry W. Sargent, Homer Ramsdell, Walter 
Langdon and William A. Davies. 

But though the formal existence of the college 
dates from the spring of 1860, yet it was an 
object of desire, resolve and preliminary prep- 
aration, several months before. Mr. John 
Bard, at the commencement of 1885, spoke in 
the college refectory as follows : 

"There are some facts connected with the 
founding of St. Stephen's College, which are not 
generally known. Forty years ago, the Society 
for the Promotion of Religion and Learning 

16 



St. Stephen's College 

reported that their funds failed to accomphsh 
the purpose designed for want of an institution 
in which to educate their students. Those, 
whom they had heretofore educated in secular 
colleges, seldom entered the ministry. They 
were themselves prevented by their charter 
from investing their money in buildings, but 
would sustain a diocesan church college, educat- 
ing young men for the ministry, if someone else 
would erect the necessary structures. Bishop 
Wainwright urged Mr. Bard to engage in this 
work, promising to support it with all his in- 
fluence, to make his summer residence near it, 
and to take part in the work of instruction, if 
Mr. Bard would start it. 

* 'After the death of Bishop Wainwright, his 
successor, Bishop Horatio Potter, renewed these 
assurances through the Rev. Mr. Seymour. In 
consequence of these earnest pleas Mr. Bard 
resolved to undertake the work. The chapel 
was begun. The fire which consumed it called 
the attention of the church more generally 
to this new enterprise. The Society for the 
Promotion of Religion and Learning sent a 
committee consisting of five of their most in- 
fluential members to see if this were not the 
very place for them. As a result of their inter- 
views and correspondence with Mr. Bard, and 

2 17 



Reminiscences of 

of the deliberations of the diocesan convention, 
a tripartite contract or agreement was at last 
entered into between the church in this diocese 
as the first and most important party, for whose 
benefit the whole was created; the Society for 
the Promotion of Religion and Learning as 
the second party, whose scholars were here to 
be educated under church influences leading to 
the sacred ministry; and Mr. Bard the founder 
of the endowment as the third party. Mr. 
Bard agreed, on his part, to turn over to the 
trustees the land and the buildings then erected. 
The Society promised to adopt and support the 
college. The convention recognized it as the 
diocesan institution of the church. This is 
now the Diocesan College of New York. There 
is, there can be no other." 

Before Annandale was definitely selected as 
the site of the new college. Bishop Horatio Potter 
was invited by Mr. Bard to bring his family 
from New York and occupy Mr. Bard's house 
one summer, while he and his family were away. 
The invitation was accepted. During that 
summer the bishop had an opportunity of study- 
ing the situation, and observing how well it 
was adapted for the training school which he 
had in mind. Not only was it a beautiful and 
healthful locality, but it possessed already the 

18 



St. Stephen's College 

nucleus of a college. The Rev. George F. 
Seymour, who was in charge of the Church of 
the Holy Innocents, in connection with that 
work, was preparing some young men to enter 
the General Theological Seminary. He was 
himself a superior scholar, especially in the 
classics, and an enthusiastic teacher. After 
the charter was obtained, the trustees held a 
meeting in New York, at the house of the pro- 
visional bishop, the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, 
on the 11th of April, 1860, and organized by 
electing the Hon. John V. L. Pruyn as president, 
the Rev. George F. Seymour as warden and 
secretary, and Mr. John L. Aspinwall as treas- 
urer. An executive committee of five was also 
appointed, consisting of Mr. John Bard, chair- 
man, Messrs. John L. Aspinwall, Walter Lang- 
don, Henry W. Sargent and the warden, ex-officio. 

The term Warden was selected at this meeting 
as the designation of the head of the college, on 
motion of the Rev. Dr. John McVickar. 

The Society for the Promotion of Religion 
and Learning reported, through their treasurer, 
Mr. James F. De Peyster, that they had appro- 
priated $2,000 towards the support of St. 
Stephen's College. On motion of Mr. Aspin- 
wall $1,000 of this sum was assigned to the 
warden for his salary, and $1,000 towards the 

19 



Reminiscences 

support of the students and the incidental ex- 
penses of the institution. Mr. Bard having 
pledged himself to give $1,000 per annum dur- 
ing his life and ability, the trustees voted that 
sum as the salary of the Rev. Charles Babcock, 
the professor of mathematics. 



20 



CHAPTER II. 

Mr. Seymour resigned his office of warden 
March 19, 1861. His resignation was accepted 
at a subsequent meeting of the Board held on 
the 9th of April. On the 21st of May the 
Rev. Thomas Richey was elected warden. 
Mr. John L. Aspinwall having promised an 
annual contribution of $500, the salary of the 
warden was increased to $1,500. 

Mr. Richey undertook a department in The- 
ology in addition to his other work, and pub- 
lished in the catalogue a course of study covering 
three years. Three young men began the 
course, but soon decided that they could ac- 
complish their object more satisfactorily in 
some of the older seminaries. 

The legislature of the state, on the 21st of 
May, 1861, authorized an increase in the num- 
ber of trustees from sixteen to twenty -four. The 
following gentlemen were elected: The Hon. 
John A. King, The Hon. Hamilton Fish, The 
Rev. John Cotton Smith, The Rev. William 
Rudder, D. D., and Messrs. John Jacob Astor, 

21 



Reminiscences of 

Cyrus Curtiss, John Knickerbocker and Cor- 
nelius L. Tracy. 

Mr. Bard placed at the disposal of the college 
the house which has been occupied by me for 
more than forty-six years, and the stuccoed 
cottage which was built on a rock just north of 
the chapel, but has since been pulled down. It 
was for several years the abode of the janitor, 
and was also employed as a post office. But 
at first it served as the dormitory for the students 
until Aspinwall Hall was erected in 1861. Mr. 
Seymour and Professor and Mrs. Babcock oc- 
cupied the other house, and to it the students 
came for their meals and recitations. 

Professor Babcock resigned in 1862, and was 
succeeded in the chair of mathematics by the 
Rev. Robert B. Fairbairn. He brought his 
family from Catskill and occupied the house 
which is now the home of Henry D. Lewis, until 
Ludlow and Willink Hall was built in 1869. 

I was elected professor of Latin in the fall of 
1863, but taught Latin, Greek and Hebrew the 
first year. When I arrived I found Mr. Fair- 
bairn teaching the whole college in all its de- 
partments. He had engaged William T. Currie 
as tutor, but Mr. Currie, in order to earn some 
money during the summer vacation, had shipped 
as cook on a fishing schooner. As they had 

22 



St. Stephen's College 

great luck in catching mackerel off the Banks 
of Newfoundland, the captain would not put 
in, until about a month after college opened. 
When Tutor Currie arrived we had a force of 
three instructors, to which a fourth was added 
the following year, when the Rev. Andrew 
Oliver was elected professor of Greek and 
Hebrew. 

The six students, whom Mr. Seymour taught, 
formed the nucleus of the college. When the 
Rev. Thomas Richey succeeded him, in Sep- 
tember, 1861, there were twelve students. In 
the fall of 1862, the number was fourteen; in 
1863, it was eighteen; in 1864, twenty-eight. 
In 1865, thirty-nine were accepted, while more 
than twenty had to be refused for lack of room. 
As better accommodations were provided, the 
number gradually increased, until, in 1888, we 
reached high-water mark with eighty-two. This 
required us not only to occupy all the rooms 
in the college buildings, but also to rent a house 
and rooms in the neighborhood. 

The commencement of 1865 was marked by 
the generous offer of Miss Elizabeth Ludlow 
and her sister, Mrs. Cornelia Ann Willink, to 
erect a college hall and residence for the warden, 
after plans furnished by Richard Upjohn, Esq. 
These ladies were members of Trinity parish, 

23 



Reminiscences of 

New York, and the donation was made at the 
suggestion and by the advice of their friend and 
pastor, the Rev. Francis Vinton, S. T. D., an 
assistant minister of Trinity Church. Doctor 
Vinton was a true friend of St. Stephen's, and 
not only obtained this valuable addition to its 
plant, but also sent his sons and nephews here 
to be educated. 

Mrs. Willink died November 18, 1865, but 
the surviving sister carried out their mutual 
design. The corner-stone was laid June 13, 
1866, which was the birthday of Mrs. Willink. 
Miss Ludlow wished to have the corner-stone 
laid by the Rev. Dr. John McVickar, but as 
feeble health forbade his presence, she asked 
Doctor Vinton to take his place. After service 
in the chapel, the congregation proceeded to 
the site, where the solemnities of laying the cor- 
ner-stone were conducted in the following order: 
The warden read a historical notice of the col- 
lege; the Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, D. D., read 
a memoir of the founders and delivered an ad- 
dress; Mr. John Bard read a list of the articles 
deposited in the corner-stone; Doctor Vinton 
laid the corner-stone, delivered an address and 
concluded the service with prayer and the bless- 
ing of peace. 

Doctor Vinton, in his address, said: "This 

24 



St. Stephen's College 

hall is designed by the first architect in our land 
for the two-fold purpose of providing a public 
room for meetings of the trustees and a residence 
for the warden of St. Stephen's College. The 
public room is to be wrought with all that the 
carvings and decorations of architecture in 
solid oak can furnish; the warden's house, with 
the simplicity and conveniences which domestic 
economy demands. For God's peculiar ser- 
vice, art is subsidized in the best; for man's 
comfort, in the needful. And although this 
arrangement be converse to the usual order of 
religious and household structures, yet it is 
conformable with sacred examples, that would 
not tolerate houses of cedar for man, while the 
Lord's altar dwelt in tabernacles; but rather 
first built the temple, overlaying it with gold 
and precious things, and consecrating that 
which costs much to Him, whose name is to be 
hallowed, and from whom all wealth comes. 
This is the spirit and tone of piety, wherewith 
the founders of this hall have expressed their 
wishes to me their pastor." 

The beautiful and costly oak, with which the 
entrance hall and the trustees' hall are adorned, 
was brought from some heavily-timbered land 
which Miss Ludlow and her sister owned in the 
eastern part of Dutchess County. 

25 



Reminiscences of 

In 1869, Bishop Horatio Potter, in his ad- 
dress to the diocesan convention, said: "St. 
Stephen's College, Annandale, is outrunning 
the anticipations of its most sanguine friends. 
During the past year, it contained upwards of 
sixty students, all confirmed, all communicants, 
all looking forward to the sacred ministry of 
the church, unless we except a few young men, 
who had not yet fully announced their deter- 
mination. The present collegiate year will 
open with upwards of seventy students, the 
college buildings and every house in the neigh- 
borhood which the warden could obtain the use 
of being filled to their utmost capacity. Appli- 
cations for admission are obliged to be held in 
suspense or denied. In the meantime the char- 
acter of the institution has been rapidly rising. 
The last annual commencement bore striking 
and most gratifying testimony to the scholar- 
ship, the tone of thinking, and the intellectual 
ability developed under the system of instruc- 
tion and training there employed, while the 
moral and religious spirit of that large body of 
young men, all animated by the same high aims, 
bound together by common sympathies and 
warm fraternal affections, as they pursued their 
studies and their pastimes amid the most lovely 
scenes of nature, served to complete a picture 



St. Stephen's College 

which must have touched the heart of every 
earnest Christian beholder. It cannot be long 
before the church, to a wide extent, will recognize 
the high character and the great importance of 
St. Stephen's College." 



27 



CHAPTER III. 

At the commencement of 1873, after Doctor 
Fairbairn had been warden for ten years, the 
trustees and other of his friends presented him 
with a purse of $1,500, and induced him to 
spend his summer vacation in Europe. It was 
always a dehghtful memory to him. 

During his absence, Preston Hall which he 
had begun, was completed. This was the gift 
of Miss Betsey Preston, a cook in the employ 
of Mr. John L. Aspinwall. In a long and faith- 
ful service, she had accumulated a few thousand 
dollars, and, having no near relatives, she con- 
sulted Mr. Aspinwall as to the disposition of it. 
He advised her to give it to St. Stephen's College. 
When the trustees came into possession of it, 
they decided that the most fitting use which 
they could make of it was to employ it in build- 
ing a refectory. It has been most useful not 
only for the ordinary purposes of a dining hall, 
but also for balls, concerts, lectures and dra- 
matic entertainments. Furthermore, it tends to 
perpetuate the memory of Betsey Preston. Who 
would know anything about this humble cook, 
if she had not associated her name with the 
cause of Christian education? We all feel that 

29 



Reminiscences of 

we would like to be pleasantly remembered 
after we have passed away. How can we better 
accomplish this than by erecting a building for 
St. Stephen's, or by endowing a professorship 
or scholarship which may bear our name and 
hand it down to future generations? 

In 1875, Mr. John Campbell of New York 
presented the college with a telescope, which 
was mounted in a brick building erected for the 
purpose. 

In 1884, the trustees determined to erect 
two sections of the south wing of the new college 
building, to afford accommodation for twenty- 
four students. Plans were drawn by Charles 
C. Haight, the architect. It was found more 
economical to build the two together than to 
put them up separately. The material em- 
ployed was bluestone from Ulster County, 
with trimmings of Ohio sandstone. 

Miss Caroline Bard, a sister of John Bard, 
bequeathed $3,000 to the college to found a 
scholarship. The bequest was invalid because 
made within sixty days of her death. The heirs 
agreed, however, to make it good, provided 
the trustees would put the money into the new 
building and pay the income of a like amount 
each year to some student to be selected by the 
warden. The trustees agreed to this condition. 

30 



St. Stephen's College 

The building was completed and dedicated 
on the 2d of January, 1885, the anniversary 
of the consecration of the chapel, and the 
twenty-fifth of the foundation of the college. 
After service in the chapel the warden preached 
an admirable sermon, commemorating the holy 
lives and valuable services to the college of 
many eminent clergymen and laymen who were 
present at the service of consecration twenty- 
five years before, but now rest from their labors. 
Nor did he fail to mention our esteemed diocesan 
the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, who though still 
living, was prevented by the infirmities of age 
from the discharge of the duties of his office. 
Among those of whom the warden spoke were 
the Hon. John V. L. Pruyn, late chancellor of 
the University of the State of New York, the 
Rev. John McVickar, D. D., James F. De 
Peyster, Mrs Margaret J. Bard, John L. Aspin- 
wall, Henry W. Sargent, the Rev. Samuel R. 
Johnson, D. D., and the Rev. Caleb S. Henry, 
D. D. The warden set before his hearers the 
ideal which the founders had in mind, when 
they established St. Stephen's, and called at- 
tention to the fact that they began where most 
colleges left off, with the erection of the chapel; 
thus making the religious services the founda- 
tion from which the work of Christian educa- 
tion was to proceed. 

31 



Reminiscences of 

The Holy Communion was administered by 
the assistant bishop, after which a procession 
moved to the south section of the new building 
where a hymn was sung and a prayer of dedi- 
cation offered by the bishop. A similar service 
was then held in the north section; after which 
the building was thrown open for the inspection 
of the visitors. The members of the college 
and their guests were subsequently entertained 
at a banquet in the college refectory, when a 
poem was read, speeches were delivered, and 
attention was called to the fact that, at the time 
of this twenty-fifth anniversary, about one 
twenty-fifth of all the clergy of the church in 
the United States were formerly students of 
St. Stephen's. 

In the winter of 1887-'88, the college was 
in desperate financial straits. To add to our 
troubles typhoid fever appeared among the 
students, which compelled us to close the college 
on the 28th of February. Doctor Fairbairn and 
I took counsel together. We agreed to make 
the college a special object of prayer. Further- 
more, to add works to faith, he asked me to go 
to New York and lay the condition of the college 
before Bishop Henry C. Potter. The bishop 
said that he had been expecting some such 
thing, and that he would call a meeting of promi- 
se 



St. Stephen's College 

nent church men and women, and ask their 
assistance. After I returned home he wrote 
to say that he had decided that it would be 
better to call a meeting of the trustees first. 
The call was issued and the trustees met in New 
York on the 7th of April. What they said or 
did I know not, nor whether it were a case of 
post hoc or prompter hoc, but on the 13th of June, 
Doctor Fairbairn came down to Bard Hall, called 
me out of my class room, and showed me a 
check for $25,000, which he had just received 
from Dr. Charles Frederic Hoffman. You may 
be sure that I obeyed the Scriptural injunction 
to "rejoice with them that do rejoice." Nor 
was that the end of Doctor Hoffman's bene- 
factions. It was but the beginning. In the 
catalogue of 1891-'92 the warden stated that 
"during the past four years there had been re- 
ceived from the Rev. C. F. Hoffman, D. D., 
$155,000." The next year he stated that 
"there have been added by the liberality of the 
Rev. C. F. Hoffman, D. D., during the past 
year, $20,000 to the endowment fund, and 
also $30,000 for the erection of a fire-proof 
library building." If we add to these bene- 
factions the $50,000 which he bequeathed to 
us in his will, we shall find that the gifts of this 
noble-hearted churchman to St. Stephen's Col- 
3 33 



Reminiscences 

lege amounted in the aggregate to more than a 
quarter of a million of dollars. We should 
cherish his memory as that of the saviour of the 
college, without whose aid, humanly speaking, 
the college would not now be in existence. 

Two of his checks had an interesting expe- 
rience. Doctor Fairbairn received one day in 
his mail an envelope containing Doctor Hoff- 
man's card. He threw the envelope into his 
waste paper basket, and put the card on his 
table, wondering why it was sent. A few days 
later he received a letter from Doctor Hoffman 
asking if he had received a check which he had 
sent him a few days before. Fortunately the 
contents of the waste paper basket had not 
been burned, and a hasty search brought to 
light the envelope still containing its precious 
check for $25,000. 

At another time, the postmaster in New York 
notified the warden that there was a letter in 
that office addressed to him, but without a 
stamp. If he would send the requisite postage 
it would be forwarded to him. The warden 
hesitated, thinking that it was probably an 
advertisement, but at last determined to risk 
two cents on it. When the letter came, it was 
found to contain another of Doctor Hoffman's 
valued checks for $25,000. 

34 



CHAPTER IV. 

When Mr. Bard presented to St. Stephen's 
College the beautiful chapel in which its re- 
ligious services are held, he reserved the use of 
it for one day in the year. The day that he 
selected was All Saints' Day; and while he and 
his family resided at Annandale it was his custom 
to invite some bishop or other eminent clergy- 
man to preach the sermon. At times he would 
secure some well-trained choir to assist in ren- 
dering the choral service. After he went to 
Europe the day was observed as a college holi- 
day and the choral service was kept up. But 
in 1888 the day was specially interesting, be- 
cause to the usual service was added a confir- 
mation of seven candidates by the bishop of the 
diocese, and the benediction of the beautiful 
well which had been erected, through the efforts 
of the ladies of the parish, as a memorial to 
Mrs. Margaret Johnston Bard. Mrs. Bard 
bore an important part in the founding of St. 
Stephen's College and was a member of its 
board of trustees. She and her husband labored 
together in the cause of Christian education and 

35 



Reminiscences of 

in works of religion and charity. They built 
and sustained churches and parish schools. 
They furnished not only the material support, 
but also the courage and confidence and faith 
which inspired the laborers in their difficult tasks 
and prevented any thought of failure. Their 
hospitable home was a place for social gather- 
ings, where one might meet those who were 
eminent in many departments of life and whom 
it was a privilege to know. The officers and 
students of St. Stephen's were made to feel that 
it was one of their homes where they were al- 
ways welcome. 

Mrs. Bard made her influence felt also among 
those in the humbler walks of life. She visited 
the poor and sick and lightened their burdens. 
She loved to make others happy. She let her 
light shine forth to the glory of God. Her life 
was a constant benediction. And when it 
pleased the Lord to call her from the labors of 
this world to the rest and joy of Paradise, it 
seemed fitting to those who were left behind 
that some memorial should be erected at Annan- 
dale which might hand down her name to fu- 
ture generations. 

The form which the memorial at length 
assumed was that of a well at the north side of 
the college chapel. Mr. Charles C. Haight, 

36 






^ 




The Well. 
Designed by C. C. Haight, Esq. 



St. Stephen's College 

the well-known architect, kindly presented the 
plan and gave his efficient services to the details 
of the construction. The well is a marvel of 
beauty. Two broad octagonal steps of Wester- 
ley granite lead up to a massive curb of the same 
material, circular in shape and hewn out of one 
piece of solid rock. On the front is carved 
the following inscription: " St. Margaret's Well. 
Erected A. D. 1887, in loving memory of Mar- 
garet Johnston Bard. * I was thirsty and ye 
gave me drink.' " From the top of the curb 
arises a beautiful canopy of iron, wrought in 
open work, resting on four pillars and surmounted 
by a cross. The oaken buckets which are at- 
tached to the canopy bring up the cooling waters 
from below, and make the memorial an object 
of utility as well as of ornamentation. 

The service of benediction was prepared by 
the bishop of the diocese. It consisted of the 
eighty-fourth Psalm of the Psalter read respon- 
sively, a lesson taken from the twenty-sixth 
chapter of the Book of Genesis, verses twelve 
to thirty -three, inclusive, and the fourth chapter 
of the Gospel according to St. John, verses five 
to fourteen, inclusive, an address of presentation 
by the warden, the acceptance by the bishop, 
and the benediction. 

Doctor Fairbairn, speaking in behalf of the 

37 



Reminiscences of 

ladies, presented the memorial to the trustees 
to take under their charge and care for in the 
future. In a few well-chosen words he delin- 
eated the saintly character of Mrs. Bard, her 
devotion to good works, and her love for all that 
was true, just, pure, lovely and of good report. 

The bishop, speaking not only as the head of 
the diocese, but as president of the board of 
trustees, accepted the charge. In graceful lan- 
guage he alluded to the lessons of instruction 
which might be drawn from the portions of the 
Old and New Testaments which had just been 
read. Isaac, the man of peace, after digging a 
well, moved away, when his herdsmen contended 
with others, and there, under like circumstances, 
dug a second and a third and a fourth, continually 
opening up to others new sources of refreshment, 
until he became known as a digger of wells. 

The woman of Samaria had come to Christ 
with her frailties and imperfections, and had 
learned from him where she could find a well 
of water springing up into everlasting life. The 
religious influences, which Mrs. Bard had helped 
to bring to Annandale had changed the nature 
of the place, brought refreshment to weary 
souls, and made the desert blossom like the rose. 

In 1891, the two sections of dormitories 
known as North Hoffman and South Hoffman 

38 



St. Stephen's College 

halls were erected. These are most valuable 
additions to the college property and furnish 
handsome suites of rooms for six members of 
the faculty and twelve students. Together 
with H. Potter and McVickar halls they form 
the south wing of what is intended to be the 
great building. Sometime, when the means 
are provided, there will be added at the north 
end of the present structure the large central 
hall with its massive tower dominating every- 
thing about it, containing lecture rooms, a large 
room for public gatherings, and such other rooms 
as may seem necessary. North of this will 
come four more sections of dormitories, corre- 
sponding with the four already built. We shall 
then be able to provide comfortably for one 
hundred students, which is perhaps as great 
a number as it is desirable to have. 

In 1892, Doctor Hoffman added to his pre- 
vious benefactions the gift of a fire-proof library. 
This beautiful and costly structure, secure 
against the ravages of fire in all its parts from 
its concrete foundation to its copper roof, and 
embellished with its tiled floor and handsome 
stacks of polished oak, will house 100,000 
volumes. It is a vast improvement on the 
makeshifts of our early days. The few books 
that the college owned, at the first, found abun- 

39 



Reminiscences of 

dance of space in the little room over the entrance 
of Aspinwall Hall, where the members of the 
K. r. X. society now hold their meetings. 
About the year 1889-'90, Doctor Fairbairn 
learned through the elder Doctor Houghton 
that Mr. J. A. C. Gray had intended to give to 
St. Stephen's a valuable collection of books 
from the library of his son, the Rev. A. T. Gray, 
D. D., a former warden of Racine College, but 
that he was deterred by the report that we had 
no suitable place to keep them. Whereupon 
Doctor Fairbairn, being fertile in resources, 
fitted up with shelves the large room in Bard 
Hall, moved our 3,200 volumes down there, 
and sent word to Mr. Gray that now we had 
ample room for his son's books. The result 
was that a choice collection of 2,025 volumes 
was added to our library. Others who have 
contributed liberally and helped to make up 
the 18,000 volumes that we now possess, are 
Mr. John Bard, the Hon. J. V. L. Pruyn, the 
Rev. Dr. Hoffman, the Rev. John W. Moore, 
the Rev. J. B. Gibson, D. D., the Rev. John I. 
Tucker, D. D., the Rev. Francis Harison, D. D., 
the Rev. G. Bremner, the Rev. Harry Barker, 
and the Society for Promoting Religion and 
Learning. The latter corporation makes an 
annual appropriation of $250 for this object. 

40 




Rev. Wm. Cunningham Rodgers, D. D., 
President 



St. Stephen's College 

It may interest some to know that Doctor 
Hoffman purchased for the college, at an ex- 
pense of $ 1,500, a little book containing the 
family prayers of George Washington. The 
book is not complete, as all after Thursday 
morning had been removed before we obtained 
possession of it. But the portion that remains 
is most interesting. It contains family prayers 
for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 
morning and evening, and for nearly all of 
Thursday morning. They were composed and 
written in his own hand by the Father of His 
Country, and show that he was a man of devout 
Christian character. In these days, when so 
few gather their households together each day 
for family devotions, it is pleasant to know that 
our first president felt the need of divine aid 
for himself and his household, and sought it 
daily at the family altar. 



41 



CHAPTER V. 

The history of the college would not be com- 
plete without mention of the St. Peter's Brother- 
hood. This organization, formed in the early 
days of the college to do missionary work in 
the neighborhood, has proved an admirable 
training school for the young men who have 
been connected with it. The country east of 
the Hudson, for about two miles from the col- 
lege in all directions, was divided up into wards. 
Each was put under the charge of a ward mas- 
ter and his assistants, who in turn were under 
the direction of a superior appointed by the 
warden of the college. Doctor Fairbairn sent 
the young men by twos to visit frequently 
every family in the region for which we held 
ourselves responsible. They were to visit the 
sick and read to them, to find out and relieve 
cases of destitution, to notify him of any who 
were unbaptized or desired to be confirmed, 
and to induce people to come to church and 
to send their children to Sunday school. He 
often testified publicly in church, at the annual 
installation of their oflScers, to the great assist- 

43 



Reminiscences of 

ance which they had rendered him. They 
read service every Sunday evening in the school 
houses at Barrytown and in the Elmendorf 
district. The former services were regularly 
attended by Mr. John L. Aspinwall and his 
family. Indeed, he took such a deep interest 
in them that after his death Mrs. Aspinwall 
determined to continue the good work, and 
built and endowed the Church of St. John the 
Evangelist as a memorial of him. 

The work in the Elmendorf district was pros- 
ecuted by the brotherhood with equal energy 
and success. The attendance was so good and 
so much interest was manifested that Doctor 
Fairbairn determined to build a chapel. Mr. 
Boardman, the father of our graduate, furnished 
the plan, the land was procured from the Misses 
Tompkins, contributions were made by various 
persons both within and without the church, and 
St. Peter's Chapel was erected. It has proved 
a church home for the people of the neighbor- 
hood, and a source of spiritual light and life. 
There the clergy of the college celebrate the 
Holy Communion and administer baptism. 
There children are taught in the Sunday 
school, and receive religious impressions which 
influence them through life. And there adults 
are strengthened in their faith and taught the 

44 



St. Stephen's College 

way of God more perfectly. A gentleman living 
in the neighborhood, but belonging to another 
communion, said to me, not long ago: "We do 
not want that work at St. Peter's Chapel to 
be given up, and we want your young men to 
continue in charge of it. They have done a 
great work here and have reformed this whole 
neighborhood." That testimony was especially 
valuable as coming from such a source. He 
saw the effect which the brotherhood produced 
upon his neighborhood, but he did not see the 
reflex influence which the work produced upon 
them. They learned many things in that mis- 
sion which the college could not teach them. They 
learned how to deal with men and women and 
children, how to influence them for good, and 
how to bring into their lives something which 
would brighten and hallow them. It was the 
kind of work which they were to do in after life, 
and if he could go with me to their parishes and 
hear them tell of the benefit which they had 
derived from their work in the brotherhood, he 
would know that it had blessed the doer as well 
as the recipient. 

In this year of grace, 1910, the college com- 
pletes the fiftieth year of its existence. The 
actual jubilee occurred on the 20th of March, 
which was Palm Sunday. We celebrated it 

45 



Reminiscences 

in New York, on the 6th of April, by a grand 
service in Trinity Church, at 4 p. m., with a 
sermon by the Rev. Dr. Manning, the rector, 
and in the evening by a banquet at the Hotel 
Astor. The past is secure. The future is un- 
certain. But as we look back, and see how 
we have been led along and rescued from criti- 
cal emergencies, we thank God and take courage. 
A year ago, the trustees relieved me, for the 
third time, from my duties as acting warden 
and elected as head of the college the Rev. 
William C. Rodgers, D. D. His title was, soon 
after, changed from warden to president, to 
make it conform to the custom of American 
colleges in general and to relieve us from the 
necessity of continual explanations. Doctor 
Rodgers has undertaken to raise a sufficient 
endowment to place the college on a firm finan- 
cial foundation and to enable us to lengthen our 
cords and strengthen our stakes. It is a work 
in which he needs the generous support of every 
loyal son of St. Stephen's. 



46 



CHAPTER VI. 

The Wardens of St. Stephen's. 

Rev. George Franklin Seymour, March 20, 

1860-April 9, 1861. 
Rev. Thomas Richey, May 21, 1861-1863. 
Rev. Robert Brinckerhoff Fairbairn, 1863- 

September 1, 1898. 
Rev. George Bailey Hopson, pro tempore, 

September 1, 1898-October 1, 1899. 
Rev. Lawrence Thomas Cole, October 1, 1899- 

July 1, 1903. 
Rev. George Bailey Hopson, pro tempore, 

July 1, 1903-February 1, 1904. 
Rev. Thomas Robinson Harris, February 1, 

1904-September 1, 1907. 
Rev. George Bailey Hopson, pro tempore, 

September 1, 1907-June 17, 1909. 
Rev. William Cunningham Rodgers, June 17, 

1909-. 

The first two wardens were men of energy, 
intellectual ability and great force of character. 
They were also excellent teachers. They saw 
the truth clearly and were able to present it in 
such a light that others could see it clearly. But 
as Mr. Seymour was warden for only a year, and 

47 



Reminiscences of 

Mr. Richey for only two years, and as the num- 
ber of students at that time was very small, 
varying from six to fourteen, they could not 
make a strong and lasting impression upon the 
infant college. Doctor Fairbairn, the third 
warden, whom Doctor Harris called " the great 
warden, " did stamp his character upon it. 
After serving for a year in the subordinate 
position of professor of mathematics, he took 
the helm and for thirty-five years ruled with 
firmness and justice. For seven-tenths of the 
time that the college has existed he shaped its 
policy and controlled its destiny. He was 
forty -five years of age, in the full vigor of mind 
and body, when he entered upon his important 
duties. Thenceforward the college was the 
predominant object of his care and concern. He 
planned and labored and prayed for it. To 
meet its financial obligations he advanced money 
from time to time out of his modest salary, 
until, at the time of his resignation, the college 
owed him nine thousand dollars. The following 
extract from a minute adopted by the faculty 
just after his death gives their estimate of his 
character and work: 

" Coming to St. Stephen's at an early period 
in its history with a clear conception of the 
work which he wished to accomplish, he gave 

48 




TlllO l{h;v. I{. |{. h'AIHIlAIRN, I). I). 



St. Stephen's College 

to its course of study the form which it has 
since retained, and impressed upon the college 
the character which has gained for it its reputa- 
tion. 

" His industry was remarkable, his learning 
was accurate and extensive, and his ability was of 
a high order. He taught successfully in many 
departments and never shirked labor or re- 
sponsibility. He moulded the character of the 
young men who were committed to his care by 
his private advice, encouragement and admoni- 
tion, by his public teaching, and above all, by 
his own example. His influence will be per- 
petuated in the lives and doctrines of his former 
pupils. He was a warm friend, a courteous 
gentleman, an earnest Christian, a good man. 

*' The College was his life's work, to which 
he gave the best powers of his mind and body; 
all that he was, and all that he had. His name 
will ever be associated with its history : his mem- 
ory will be cherished as a priceless heritage. " 

Doctor Cole, during the four years of his ad- 
ministration, made many changes in the curric- 
ulum to adapt it to modern methods. He 
introduced the elective system, which has been 
very generally adopted by other colleges and 
which enables the student to choose such a 
course of study as seems best fitted to his abili- 
4 49 



Reminiscences 

ties or his requirements. He dropped the pre- 
paratory department, preferring to stand with 
those colleges which rely for their support en- 
tirely on the four college classes. This, though 
successful in other and larger institutions, was 
found on trial to be not so well suited for our 
needs, as many young men desiring to study 
for the sacred ministry come to us with little 
or no preparation in Greek and Latin. 

Doctor Harris, the next warden, restored the 
preparatory department in a modified form, as 
it had proved to be an important feeder to the 
college, besides affording to certain students 
the three years' course of preparation which 
they needed for admission to the theological 
seminary. He suffered during his administra- 
tion from ill health, the result of a weakness 
contracted during his faithful service in the 
Civil War. But, in spite of it, he went on with 
courage and determination for three years and 
a half, to perform the duties of his wardenship, 
in addition to those of secretary of convention 
and as the most important member of the stand- 
ing committee. It is comparatively easy to do 
one's work when life flows smoothly on and 
strength and vigor animate every member, but 
to do it in spite of weakness and at times amid 
severe pain, shows the spirit of a hero. 

50 



CHAPTER VII. 

Some of the Benefactors of St. Stephen's. 

One who visits the college grounds for the 
first time in this jubilee year might think that 
nature had wonderfully adapted them to their 
present purpose. The terraces, the lawns, the 
regular rows of trees are very attractive to the 
eye. But it was a very rough-looking place 
when I came here forty -seven years ago. Rocks 
were sticking up all along the rugged hillside 
and half -starved trees were seeking a precarious 
existence in their clefts. Mr. Bard was the 
magician who effected the transformation. He 
removed the unsightly trees, blasted out the 
rocks, brought in hundreds of loads of good soil, 
and planted shapely trees. He told me once 
that he could show from his books that he had 
spent $80,000 on the college. He took such a 
deep interest in it and was so closely identified 
with it that it was popularly known as '* Bard's 
College." When he took his family to Europe 
for an indefinite period after the death of his 
only son, he said that he wished to disabuse 

51 



Reminiscences of 

men's minds of this idea, and throw the burden 
of its responsibihty on others. 

The Rev. John McVickar, D. D., was 
another of our early friends. As professor in 
Columbia College for fifty years, he showed his 
interest in the cause of education, and his ability 
as a teacher. As president of the standing com- 
mittee of the diocese, and as superintendent of 
the Society for Promoting Religion and Learn- 
ing, he was able to be of much assistance to us. 
He attended not only the trustees' meetings and 
commencement exercises, but also our examina- 
tions. In the biography of him, written by his 
son William, we read: " During the following 
year {i. e., 1859), the plan for a church college 
and home for the sons of the clergy, to be en- 
grafted on the chapel school of St. Barnabas 
at Irvington, was put forth, with liberal offers 
to the diocese of partial endowment. The plan, 
as a training school for the ministry and home 
for the sons of the clergy, was a good one, but 
it soon became evident that the originators 
of it must be prepared to carry the whole burden. 
It was, therefore, wisely dropped, and my 
father, soon after, interested himself warmly 
in the almost similar effort and plan of his 
nephew, Mr. John Bard, at Annandale. To 

52 




m 




St. Stephen's College 

this training college of St. Stephen's he left by 
will three thousand dollars and a portion of his 
library, and up to the time of his death was a 
trustee and a warm advocate of its interests." 

The Hon. John V. L. Pruyn was another 
devoted friend of St. Stephen's. By his influence 
at Albany he obtained from the legislature the 
charter of the college. 

When Aspinwall Hall was built he furnished 
the parlor and bedroom at the head of the stairs 
with the intention of occupying them on the 
occasion of his frequent visits to the college. As 
he was president of the board of trustees, they 
were known as the president's rooms. Before 
his second marriage, he often spent Saturday 
and Sunday at Annandale, though Mr. Bard 
claimed him as his guest. 

In 1865, he presented us with a valuable 
collection of philosophical apparatus. 

John Lloyd Aspinwall was another of those 
devoted friends whom Mr. Bard gathered about 
him and whose interest he enlisted in behalf of 
the infant college. He was our treasurer for 
many years and paid the salaries of the pro- 
fessors promptly, whether there was any money 
in the treasury or not. I have already shown 

53 



Reminiscences 

that Preston Hall was obtained through his in- 
fluence. When Aspinwall Hall was built, he 
shared with Mr. Bard the expense of furnishing 
the students' room with black walnut furniture. 
He contributed toward the current expenses 
$500 a year at first, and afterward $1,000 a 
year; a gift which Mrs. Aspinwall continued 
for several years after his death. He was a 
genial, generous, hospitable, warm-hearted 
Christian gentleman. 



54 



